known who are the principals, or at least that you and myself are concerned in it, we shall deceive ourselves. I have sent the plan to Mr. Bretland and Mr. Toulmin, and have no thought of sending to any body else at present; but I think Mr. Cappe should be informed of it, and his assistance, in some form or other, asked. That I leave to you. I only endeavour to get some assistance in the part that I have undertaken, but do not expect much.

You say nothing about Mr. Belsham and the academy, or the time of your visit to us.

P. S. I want two copies of my first and second paper lately printed for the Philosophical Transactions, in order to the new edition of all my volumes of experiments. Perhaps Dr. Price and some other of my friends may spare their copies. Ask any of them that you happen to meet.†

TO THE EDITOR OF THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE.

Birmingham, June 24, 1789.

MR. URBAN, I BEG leave, through the channel of your Magazine, to acquaint my friends and the public that I have seen the Bishop of St. David's new edition of his "Tracts in Controversy"+ with me, and pledge myself to shew, in my " Defences of Unitarianism" for 1789, § that his " addition of supplemental Notes and Disquisitions" contain nothing more favourable to the doctrine of the Trinity, or more to his own advantage as a scholar, than his original Letters to me.||

TO REV. T. LINDSEY.¶

DEAR FRIEND,

Birmingham, July 22, 1789. THE time you and Mrs. Lindsey passed at Birmingham appears now as a pleasant dream, which I hope, however, will often be repeated, before we awake in a state where, I trust, we shall separate no more.

*See supra, pp. 3, 12.

See W. XIX. 9, note.
|| Gent, Mag. LIX 488.

+ Orig. MS.
S.WIX. 9-52.
Essex Street.

After the agreeable relaxation which you gave me, I have applied pretty closely to my different pursuits. To the article of Constantine I have added remarks on what Mr. Gibbon says of the causes of his conversion, which, I think, you will not dislike. I shall read his History very carefully, as far as it coincides with mine, and shall add other remarks, if any occur. In philosophy I have several experiments of particular consequence, especially relating to respiration.†

My wife continues pretty well. She is now at Barr, with Mrs. Galton, and I am about to go and dine and spend the evening with them. There I am to meet Mr. Berington, and a relation of his, who is a bishop among the Catholics.

The disturbances in Paris, of which you will have heard, give us much uneasiness on account of William, who is in the very midst of them.

If you see Mr. Lee, give my particular respects to him and Mrs. Lee, and consult him about the propriety and practicability of dedicating to the Prince of Wales the new edition of my volumes of experiments. §

To REV. JOSEPH BRETLAND. ||

DEAR SIR,

Birmingham, July 25, 1789.

I AM glad to find that you continue to preach. I should have been very sorry to hear that you had declined it on any account.

I shall be thankful for any assistance you may be able to procure me in the translation of any part of the undertaking, but should have been better pleased if you had thought proper to undertake part of it yourself. There are too many of us who neglect our Hebrew. I imagine, however, you are better qualified in this respect than many others who would have made no difficulty of it.

I sincerely wish you much happiness in your new habita

* See W. VIII. 327-331.

+ See "Observations on Respiration. Read Feb. 25, 1790." Phil. Trans. LXXX. 106.

See Pref. to "Disquisitions," (1782,) W. III. 245.

§ Orig. MS.

| Exeter.

¶ See I. 191.

tion, but it is not at present very probable that I shall ever

have the pleasure of seeing you in it.

My best respects to your good father.*

TO REV. T. LINDSEY.†

Birmingham, Aug. 14, 1789.

I rejoice in the account of your safe return to London, and that you and Mrs. Lindsey are so much better for your journey.

I have nearly completed the arrangement of the new edition of my philosophical works, and a friend of Mr. Keir's will mention to Mr. Fox the affair of the dedication. There is time enough for it; I am sorry, though, that you did not see Mr. Lee on the subject.

I thank you for your various articles of news, collected on your journey, and hope you will soon find something worth sending from London.

I am glad that Mr. Turner will assist us in translation. I have not seen Mr. Belsham, but hope he will assist us in my department; but when I have rid my hands of what is now upon them, I shall stick close to it.

TO THE SAME.

DEAR FRIEND, Birmingham, Aug. 1789. MR. BAKEWELL, of Burton-upon-Trent, has just breakfasted with me, and desired me to forward the inclosed petition to Lady Hewley's trustees. As Mr. Shore is one,§ I send it with my recommendation annexed, which, I am sure, will be strengthened by your own.

Mr. Belsham has been here, and tells me that Mr. Kenrick, of Exeter, is become an Unitarian, and thinks, that in consequence of it, it may be necessary for him to leave his congregation. But we both are of opinion he should not think of

§ See I. 61, ad fin; "Life of Calamy," II 146, 147 note. See supra, p. 26.

↑ Orig. MS.

doing it till he find his staying with them will be disagreeable to the congregation. At present he has only received an anonymous letter, complaining of his change of sentiment, which, he says, gave him pleasure, as a proof that he had spoken so as to be understood. He gave me other pleasing instances of the progress of Unitarianism that had come to his knowledge.

Mr. Bakewell says they shall introduce an Unitarian Liturgy, in the use of which several, now members of the Church of England, will join them; but I think, from his account, that much will not be done while their present minister is living. I was much pleased with Mr. Bakewell, who has both a philosophical and theological turn.

P. S. Get me, if possible, Dr. Horsley's Latin prospectus, and all his sermons not contained in the volume of controversy. .*

TO THE SAME.

DEAR FRIEND,

Birmingham, Aug. 31, 1789. I have only Rigaltius's edition of Tertullian, which, I believe, is very common. If Mr. Hamilton† has it not, and wishes to see it, it is at his service.

My Letters to Dr. Horsley are now transcribed, and I wish to get them into your hands as soon as possible. But, as you will hardly be in town till the latter end of the week, I will keep them till I can send those to Mr. Barnard and Dr. Knowles along with them.

I know you will not like the Letters in their present state; but their asperities will be rubbed off, and many improvements may be introduced, before the time of publication. I could not well repress my indignation at the time of writing.

On Tuesday next I have agreed to set out for Castle-Head, with my daughter and Mr. Finch, and may stay three weeks. I wish, therefore, you would write to me there, and let me know what you think of my Letters in general. Particular remarks you may reserve till you return them after my return.

* Orig. MS.

+ See infra, "July 6, 1790."

You will note what I say of his Newton, &c., and, if you can, get me the necessary authorities. I really think so insolent a writer should be exposed.

You must not expect any thing materially new in these Letters, and I think they will probably be my last Defence of Unitarianism.

You must not despair of yourself, though you perceive a failure in your memory. I do the same. However, spare yourself. You will last the longer. I am far from being a close student. I never fatigue myself in the least, and generally could do twice as much as I do. But I, purposely, relax a little, as I advise you to do.

I have the translation much at heart, and doubt not we shall have a very good one. I thank you for the Letters. They are in Mr. Russell's hands, and to-morrow I shall send them to Mr. Tayleur. +

DEAR FRIEND,

TO THE SAME.

Birmingham, Sept. 7, 1789. You have made me very easy and happy by your approbation of my treatment of Dr. Horsley. Be assured, however, that it will be much improved before it go to the press.

Since I wrote last, I have added some Letters to Mr. Hawkins, which, I think, will close my pamphlet. I was in hopes to have sent you the whole; but there remains one letter to be transcribed, on the doctrine of the Trinity; though much will not remain to be said after what Mr. Clarke has addressed to him. §

There is something very particular in his case with respect to me. His patron is Bishop North, and he stands a good chance for great preferment. He courted my acquaintance almost as much as Mr. Badcock, and told me he had subscribed as articles of peace, and, if it had been to do again, he believed he should not do it. When I was writing my " History of Early Opinions," he procured me books from the cathedral library at Worcester.

* See W. XIX. 13, 14. § See W. XIX, 89, 97.

+ See I. 345, 346.

↑ Orig. MS.